AKL - how tired is it ?

[minnie56]

We’re arriving in less than 2 weeks
I still have 2 resort reservations.

Boardwalk and AKL - leaning towards the latter. But I’m hearing the resort is weary …and in need of a refurb. Add to that , my other daughter is now coming along with her husband and if I book her at AKL I can only get a Kidani villa. How ideal would that be ? Better / easier to all be at Boardwalk logistically Rather than 2 separate buildings?

Talk about procrastinating..

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Having just recently stayed at Kidani, "tired" isn't a word that comes to mind. Our accommodations were quite nice. In need of a refurb? I absolutely expect so - all of these DVC timeshare villas are used hard over the years and need a clean-up periodically, and AKL is due. But I wouldn't avoid staying there. In fact, we'll be returning next week!! Could you change your reservation so you're both staying at Kidani? I'm not completely clear on how your reservations are set up, so my question might be dumb! Of course, BW certainly has some significant location advantages if you're spending time at EP/HS! Enjoy your trip with the family!

 

[minnie56]

Thank you not dumb at all!
There isn’t availability in Jambo unfortunately ..just happened to snag Kidani. .
Appreciate the good wishes

 

[glocon]

Maybe see what your daughters think and go with that.
Both resorts are amazing.
I’ve never been to Kidani though so don’t really have a clear idea how far it is from Jambo, but it doesn’t strike me being overly inconvenient so personally I wouldn’t rule it out.
Have you been to both AKL and BW already?
Those are actually my two favorite resorts (that I’ve stayed at).
You won’t go wrong either way, but sometimes it’s just easier to let someone else pick .

 

[minnie56]

I would - but it's 1 daughters 40th bday and the other is coming from London to surprise her so the one whose birthday it is - is leaning towards AKL so I don't want to A) Spoil the surprise or B)Sway her choice!

I did have a 2 bdrm suite at the Poly for ages but daughter #2 wasn't coming so I let it go.
Now - she is!! No win here for me lol

 

[minnie56]

Maybe see what your daughters think and go with that.
Both resorts are amazing.
I’ve never been to Kidani though so don’t really have a clear idea how far it is from Jambo, but it doesn’t strike me being overly inconvenient so personally I wouldn’t rule it out.
Have you been to both AKL and BW already?
Those are actually my two favorite resorts (that I’ve stayed at).
You won’t go wrong either way, but sometimes it’s just easier to let someone else pick .

Yes, I have stayed at both a few times and love both too .. I 'think' I do like the dining choices at AKL more but it's not about me. That said my bday daughter does too sooo..... how bad can a Kidani villa be right ?!?! lol

 

[ReaperMouse]

We’re arriving in less than 2 weeks
I still have 2 resort reservations.

Boardwalk and AKL - leaning towards the latter. But I’m hearing the resort is weary …and in need of a refurb. Add to that , my other daughter is now coming along with her husband and if I book her at AKL I can only get a Kidani villa. How ideal would that be ? Better / easier to all be at Boardwalk logistically Rather than 2 separate buildings?

Talk about procrastinating..

We stayed in a 1 bedroom value at Jambo at the end of November. They are booked every night. It was wonderful. Looking forward to our stay at Kildani in May! The two buildings are a half mile apart with an easy dedicated shuttle.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Agree with poster who mentioned it's not really that far between Jambo and Kidani. If you go that route and have 1 room at Jambo and 1 room at Kidani, for the Kidani reservation, I'd make a request through Member Services to be near the Zazu elevator - which is a very easy walk to and from Jambo - it that might help with logistics. If the Kidani room ends up being on the far side (Pumba section), it can be a very long walk between the 2 sides of the resort!

 

[minnie56]

There 'is' a 2 bdrm villa at Old Key West available................never stayed there
Thinking out loud

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I wouldn't hesitate to stay there either! The 2BRs there are quite spacious and nice, especially the 2 real queen beds on the 'studio' side of the room. Depending on people and sleeping situations, actual beds (instead of pull-outs) can help.

 

[RanDIZ]

I’m DVC at AKV and never had a bad stay. Was just there in Dec and it amazing as always. Def my favorite resort by far. Add the restaurant selections and it beats out a lot of the other choices.

 

[minnie56]

I’m so grateful to everyone here - the feedback is amazing and appreciated!

 

[Mirabell Rose]

I love OKW and AKV. In the winter, I would pick AKV because it's easier to get to the food/store as it's all under roof. It gets quite cold some at night and OKW is a long walk or a wait at a cold bus stop for the shuttle to go to the main area. Plus you can't eat inside at quick service at OKW, but you can at AKV. Stayed there recently. Still very nice although I can't wait for the pull down beds versus the sleeper sofas. It's not a bad walk at all between Kindani and Jambo, and the plus at AKV is that you can use pools/water play area at both.

 

[peabody58]

Kidani is awesome. Less hectic than Jambo. Nice walk between the two buildings. Busses are good. Parking under Kidani is you are driving.

We'll be there next week with our 2 DDs/SILs in a 2 BR Savanna. Long overdue Covid cancelled Family GTG.

BWV is one of our home resorts, but for this trip, AK-K won out for the kids and giraffes with morning coffee on the balcony.

Either way, have fun.

 

[sndral]

We’re arriving in less than 2 weeks
I still have 2 resort reservations.

Boardwalk and AKL - leaning towards the latter. But I’m hearing the resort is weary …and in need of a refurb. Add to that , my other daughter is now coming along with her husband and if I book her at AKL I can only get a Kidani villa. How ideal would that be ? Better / easier to all be at Boardwalk logistically Rather than 2 separate buildings?

Talk about procrastinating..

I am so confused - are you booked at BWV for yourself & 1 dau’s family & could only grab AKV Kidani for the other daughter?
Or are you booked at Jambo for yourself & 1 dau.’s family & grabbed Kidani for the other dau.?
Or are you booked at BWV, Jambo, & Kidani?

 

[minnie56]

Me too!!!
The latter
I have a reservation at BW and AKL for us and Kidani for my daughter. I do also see BW availability to add a room there but I really do think we’re going to be happiest at AKL

 

[Rex1993]

We were at Kidani in June and it was the highlight of our cruise on the Wish. Seriously, we booked Kidani last minute to stay prior to embarking on the Wish and we all agreed that Kidani was the best part of the trip. I'm probably the wrong person to give an opinion on whether the rooms are "tired" since we thought it was awesome and our home resort is VGC, which we love.

We definitely liked Kidani over Jambo but that's because even though we have young kids there are on the shy side and very much like quiet, relaxed environments when not in the parks. That being said, I made the walk with my 11 year old son and it was just fine. The shuttle going between the two is super easy too.

We ended up buying at VGF when we were there but really only because the direct incentives were too good to pass up. And while we are very excited about our upcoming trip to VGF, if it were up to just me and my wife, we'd always stay at Kidani. There's just something amazing about looking out the windows and seeing the animals just roaming.